Jeffrey Proulx is a developmental health psychologist in a two-year post doctoral T32 fellowship in the department of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University. His primary research interest is related to stress and stress-related health outcomes and he measures stress outcomes through the use of neurological and biological markers. He has been trained in several meditation based stress reduction programs, including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). He is Native American and has familial ties with the African American community, so he is interested in how cultural strengths in these communities can inform contemplative stress-reduction practices. He has been involved in culturally-specific mindfulness research in Native Hawaiian communities and he has been funded by a Francisco J. Varela Research Award to conduct similar research in Navajo and Hopi country. He also expects to explore contemplative practices in an African American community in Portland Oregon.
